50) The Forest of Hands and Teeth-Carrie Ryan

Earth has fallen to the infection of the Unconsecrated. Those unharmed live within the series of fences that keep the Unconsecrated at bay and those living from entering the Forest of Hands and Teeth. When Mary stays too long at the river, she learns that her mother has gotten too close to the fence and been infected. When her brother turns her out and forces her into the Sisterhood, she learns a few secrets that the Sisterhood hold and wondering what else they're keeping from the villagers. She also learns of love when she is asked to help care for Travis, a boy she has longed for since childhood. When she visits him one night, an Outsider is brought to the Cathedral and Mary is consumed with discovering out who she is and where she came from. 

Before she can find out any vital information and marry Harry (the brother of Travis), the Unconsecrated   breach the fences. Harry and Mary are unable to make it to the platforms and turn to the Cathedral in hopes that they can take shelter there. Just before they can make it to the doors, the Fast One attacks the head of the Sisterhood and they are forced to make a run for it towards the path where the Outsider came through the fence. Mary, Harry and a boy they saved named Jacob wait along the path and watch as the Unconsecrated rip apart their village. Also escaping the breach is Travis, his future wife Cass, Mary's brother Jed and his wife Beth. 

With the Unconsecrated dominating their village and surrounding the fence line all around them, it's now a fight to stay alive and find out where the path will lead them, if anywhere.

This was my first foray into zombie literature. This was also the final title on my Adolescent Fiction required list. This one made me massively paranoid and wondering if I should start hoarding food, water and clothing for the impending zombie apocalypse. It was a good book, but be forewarned: there is hardly even a sliver of hope within the pages of this story. It's 308 pages of loss, despair, destruction and bloodlust. However, it's also incredibly gripping and you can't stop flipping the pages wanting to know if they get away safely, if they survive or if they have been infected. There's also romance, but even that is somewhat depressing. There's no way around it: it was extremely depressing. Good, but depressing.

I think I'll wait to start the sequel.